Shock! Horror! Science story makes the front-page! December 16, 2005

Well, maybe it’s not such a surprise since it’s in the Guardian, which loves science. The story is on the world’s first face transplants, which have just been given ethical approval by Hampstead hospital. It’s written by science correspondent Ian Sample and he mentions as early as paragraph three how more than 10 years of research went into the clincal and psyychological aspects of the operation – so they haven’t taken this thing lightly science haters! An Imperial College ethicist, Daniel Sokol, is quoted as well, so it does the story does have relevance to me. And in fact, we are hoping to snag an interview with one of the transplant doctors for the next issue of I,Science magazine.

Elsewhere in the Guardian, Global Warming is of concern with polar bears and seals at risk. There is a lovely photospread in the middle pages. A really gorgeous pic of the bears in melting ice – read into that what you will semiotics lovers!